"The hysteria sweeping the country over fracking is like a modern-day version of the Chicken Licken story... It is time to inject some science and common sense
into the debate. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, has been used in New Zealand for
decades. Some 25 years ago, fracking was used in the construction of the
Clyde Dam while I was undertaking my doctoral thesis in geotechnical
engineering. Fracking is used to develop geothermal energy fields and to
enhance oil and gas recovery in the petroleum industry. It is similar
to 'well stimulation' in the water industry." Former NZ Climate Change Minister, NIck Smith, in New Zealand Herald.